Favorite Files

1. Advanced SystemCare Free
2. Opera for Windows
3. Skype for Windows
4. Winamp 5 Full

Recent Posts

1. 
   Review - Skype for Windows

   4.0.0.181 Beta (Jan 8, 2009)

   First off I can see that they are sticking with their vision regardless of what the user base wants or desires. Some polish is finally showing up in the application.
   
   Having said all that, this is still a terrible design. Your choices are one large window or if you go to the "Compact" view you get large pop-up windows. I am not sure how this is compact in any way. Its large and obtrusive on ones desktop.
   
   In the compact view mode:
   Why would the developers want windows for sending IM or SMS as large as the contact list? Yes you can resize this but that means resizing for each and every person you IM or call through skype. For some people this is going to be very time intensive.
   
   Why in the world would we want very large icon's? Why is there so much wasted space? Why can't we have a small unobtrusive window. Do the country flags for people need to be so damn large? Do I need a search Directory on the IM window itself? Again you can minimize this, if you can find the button, its hidden. So why be obtrusive when its clear on these forums everyone is against it?
   
   Final conclusion is that we the end user must spend an enourmous amount of time undoing all these "features" so that Skype is small and unobtrusive.
   
   I am a paying skype user. I feel this product is moving in the wrong direction. I have stoped recomending this product to friends and family for any purpose.

2. 
   Review - Skype for Windows

   4.0.0.169 Beta (Oct 31, 2008)

   Ack!
   
   As pointed out before, pop-up windows for the visually impaired. This is a horrible design to say the least. The pop-up windows for Dialing, Shopping and Directory are over 2 times the size of the small Skype window. If you keep your Skype to the right of your screen like me these cover your main Skype window. Again horrible implementation, who in their right mind wants these overly large windows on top of their main window, who in their right mind wants the windows to begin with? I am not blind nor do I want my desktop covered with these pop-ups interfering with the other work I have going on.
   
   Each of these pop ups are an individual window which if you click through them requires the user to close each window individually. If you make a call, it leaves this giant window open on your desktop (So I am not sure how these other folks can give it a 5 and say the small windows are back.). If you close the window there is no apparent way to kill the call on the main Skype window you must right click to end the call on the contact.
   
   In essence the compact view is where they have removed the large screen to the right of the main window, nothing else has changed, the overly large window has been replaced with pop-ups appearing in the same place (I run in 1680 x 1050).
   
   The old design where these were in tabs is a much smarter and more enjoyable experience. Because it allows the user to have some control over the Skype windows size.
   
   The icons for online users and users in your contact list are too close in color and design, it’s all a wash in the contact list.
   
   Minus the folks who don't seem to understand a thing about user interfaces, everyone seems to be in agreement that this implementation is a poor design and the majority of folks are very unhappy with changes. For what ever reason Skype has not really stopped to take a hard look at what their users are saying and make changes accordingly.
   
   This is still a piss poor effort and an even worse response to the myriad of complaints about version 4.

3. 
   Review - Google Chrome for Windows

   0.3.154.3 Beta (Oct 16, 2008)

   Hmmm still no mouse gestures.
   
   Like the look of the product and the speed. But time to grow up and play with the big boys Google.

4. 
   Review - Skype for Windows

   4.0.0.168 Beta (Oct 15, 2008)

   Awful Awful Awful Awful
   
   Yikes. What a mess.
   
   We are not blind, please for the love of god get rid of the oversized pop ups. I for one do not want my screen overrun with Skype windows that have buttons for the visually impaired.
   
   I like a small discreet program that has functionality not this abomination.
   
   Is anyone at skype listening to the complaints? Anyone? Hello

5. 
   Review - Google Chrome for Windows

   0.2.149.27 Beta (Sep 6, 2008)

   First the Privacy ~ What can I add that others haven't already touched on. Terrible.
   
   Second the Functionality ~ Though it is fast, it lacks so many things that most folks take for granted. Mouse Gestures, Non-Existant, Right click context menu is sorely lacking in functionality. (Search With, Bookmark, Copy Address to name a few)
   
   Third The customizable options ~ are very sparse and customization is very minimal, somewhere on the order of 15 options that you can set.
   
   Fourth Content Blocking ~ I know Google sells adds, but in today's world this is a must.
   
   Pro's
   
   Quick and nimble. A very fast browser which seems responsive.
   
   Google Pages actually works with this browser but not in Firefox. I think Google may be playing games with their applications that should in theory work with other browsers but do not and ensuring they work here. I understand that is the point of the browser, but one of the big things that many believed is that we would have products that worked across many broswers/platforms. This browser may help solve some issues but at the expense of other products like Firefox, Opera and I can see possibly Safari and the Linux Distro's.
   
   For out of the box functionality you can't beat Opera and with a bit of work Firefox. IE is now a preferred browser at least when it comes to Chrome.
   
   Stay clear and use something that respects the privacy of the user and has the functionality that most everyone expects from a browser in today's world.
   
   Google is becoming more and more Microsoft like every day. In their zeal to be the biggest and most dominant they are loosing sight of their humanity. Ala Microsoft.

6. Comment - Sony Announces In-Game Ad Division

   0.2.149.27 Beta (Oct 8, 2007 - 4:49 PM)

   If it comes down to buying a system without advertising or buying one with, the choice is simple. Why would any parent unnecessarily subject their children to advertising? So sony can make a few more bucks?
   
   If you build it they will come...
   
   /waves bye to sony.

7. Comment - Mozilla, Google, Real Ink Software Deal

   0.2.149.27 Beta (Aug 2, 2006 - 4:15 PM)

   There is no bias here Desides, there is honest disdain for Real Products. I have had nothing but issues when I have used their services or products in the past. There is no reason to think that thier invasive ways will help any consumer. I have been moving slowly but surely away from Firefox and over to Opera and honestly this will just accelerate that process. Thank god there is choice and I will freely exercise mine to use other products and services that don't support or utilize Real products. They truly are that much of a turn off.

8. Comment - Google Talk Gets Avatars, Themes

   0.2.149.27 Beta (Apr 10, 2006 - 11:31 AM)

   I think for me and my friends the one big feature that is missing is the ability to make conferance type calls.
   
   Encryption and Conferance calls that can be daisy chained, would really solidify this program for use in my circle of friends.

9. Comment - AOL, Yahoo to Charge Filter Bypass Fees

   0.2.149.27 Beta (Feb 6, 2006 - 2:58 PM)

   I am a paying Yahoo! customer. I pay for expanded Yahoo! mail services. It really seems to me they want customers to pay for extended services as well as those trying to send customers spam. Yahoo! is moving dangerously close to changing their loyalties from consumer protection and services to courting the "enemy".
   
   I am going to take a wait and see approach on this issue and hope they allow their customers an option to not receive the garbage that these companies wish to send. If my worst fears are realized, I will cancel my services with Yahoo! and move to a more consumer friendly company. Judging from the responses here Yahoo! is in danger of alienating its good will with its client base and the mere fact that AOL and Yahoo! appear in the same article is disturbing to say the least. I truly hope they rethink this strategy.
   
   I wonder if the negative press and feedback as well as the potential loss of paying customers is worth the gains Yahoo! will make from allowing "pre-paid Spam". In any event I am less than pleased with the news and in the final analysis have a new view of Yahoo!. As for AOL well it couldn't get any worse. It seems a shame that Yahoo! is starting to make the same mistakes as AOL.

10. Comment - WeatherBug Upgrades with Search Tool

    0.2.149.27 Beta (Jun 25, 2004 - 2:21 PM)

    Maybe it should be called AdBug instead of WeatherBug.
    
    I would rather not know the weather than have this POS on my computer.